When conversations turn to Elvis Presley’s personal life, few topics stir as much debate as his relationship with Priscilla Presley. For decades, her carefully crafted image has been one of innocence—a shy, quiet young woman swept up in the world of a superstar. Yet, when one begins to examine the accounts of those who knew her, particularly through Suzanne Finstad’s controversial book Child Bride, a very different and provocative picture emerges. Central to this explosive discussion is Priscilla’s relationship with karate instructor Mike Stone, which many argue confirms that the “child bride” narrative may be drastically more accurate than Priscilla’s own version of events.
According to Child Bride, Priscilla was not simply a passive figure discovered by chance. The book reveals testimony from Curry Grant, a man who claimed Priscilla actively sought out introductions to Elvis while still just fourteen years old. In his startling account, she pursued Grant relentlessly—even offering intimacy in exchange for guidance on how to attract Elvis. This portrayal, backed by a lie detector test at the time, directly challenges Priscilla’s own narrative—that she was an innocent teenager invited into Elvis’s orbit by others.
Fast forward a few years, and a similar pattern seems to shockingly repeat with Mike Stone. Stone, a respected karate instructor linked closely with Chuck Norris, recalls it was Priscilla who initiated their relationship. While still married to Elvis, Priscilla brazenly inserted herself into Stone’s social circle, insisted on training at his studio despite the demanding long commute, and persistently phoned him until she gained his attention. Eventually, she pursued him into a full-fledged and secretive affair. Stone openly admits he was drawn to her beauty and charm, but he makes it crystal clear that Priscilla was the relentless pursuer.
What makes this account disturbingly striking is the broader and scandalous context. Priscilla was not only married to Elvis at the time but was also fully aware that Stone himself was married—and awaiting a child. Despite this, she pressed on, even requesting to meet his wife while continuing the covert affair. For many, this behavior violently contradicts the long-standing public image of Priscilla as a quiet, reserved, and loyal partner. Instead, it paints her as calculating, determined, and willing to cross moral boundaries for her personal desires.
Elvis himself was far from blind to these affairs. His close-knit entourage, known infamously as the “Memphis Mafia,” witnessed Priscilla’s unfaithfulness and reported back. By the time her relationship with Stone became undeniable, she and Elvis were reportedly leading largely separate lives. Still, the affair only underscored the unraveling of their marriage and cemented lingering suspicions that Priscilla was never the innocent figure she projected.
Supporters of the Child Bride narrative argue that the Mike Stone affair is solid proof of a consistent and troubling pattern in Priscilla’s life: she pursued relationships strategically and selfishly, often disregarding the commitments of others. From her teenage years with Curry Grant to her marriage years with Stone, her actions suggest she was not the passive, sheltered girl history often described but a woman actively shaping her path—even if it meant destroying others.
In the end, Priscilla Presley remains an utterly polarizing figure. Admirers admire her as stylish, resilient, and vital to Elvis’s story, while critics expose her as manipulative, opportunistic, and ultimately destructive. The truth likely lies somewhere in between, but one thing is chillingly certain: the Mike Stone chapter of her life continues to fuel fiery debates, lending undeniable weight to those who believe the Child Bride account was far closer to the ruthless reality than comforting fiction.
